Wess Val Roley wanted to be a firefighter. Now he’s being remembered as the man behind one of the most disturbing attacks on first responders in Idaho’s history.
The 20-year-old is accused of starting a fire on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene, then ambushing the fire crews who rushed to put it out. Two firefighters were killed, another was seriously wounded, and Roley was later found dead near the scene with a firearm by his side. Authorities say it appears he shot himself.
Sheriff Robert Norris called it a “total ambush.” The responders “did not have a chance,” he said. During the chaos, chilling fire department scanner calls captured their terror. “Everybody’s shot up here!” one firefighter cried. “Send law enforcement right now!”
For hours, gunfire kept the area in lockdown. Helicopters with snipers were sent in. By evening, Roley’s body was found, and the shooting finally stopped. But for many in the state, the nightmare had just begun.
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One possible clue into Roley’s motive came from his own family. His grandfather, Dale Roley, told NBC News that Wess had admired firefighters and even tried to become one. “He loved firefighters,” Dale said. “It didn’t make sense that he was shooting firefighters.”
He added that Wess may have applied for a firefighting job but could have been rejected. “Maybe he got rejected or something,” he said. Wess Roley was 5-foot-8.
The grandfather described Wess as “nervous,” “high strung,” and “kind of a loner,” but believed those traits were common for young people. “I feel terrible for those killed,” he said.
The suspect had no criminal record, but police had previously conducted welfare checks on him. He had also once been cited for a minor trespassing incident. He reportedly lived in a van, which was found near the fire zone. Deputies, worried he might escape, pushed the van down an embankment to prevent him from using it.
On social media, Roley posted a disturbing image of himself wearing a balaclava and dark face paint. The post raised even more concern about his mental state in the days leading up to the attack.
Authorities said Roley likely acted alone and used his knowledge of firearms and terrain to carry out the ambush. He worked at a tree service and had climbing skills often used in wildfire support. That made the betrayal even harder to accept for some in the fire community.
One firefighter at the scene said what many were thinking: “It’s clear to me that this fire was set intentionally to draw us in.”
Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the killings, calling them a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.” He urged residents to pray for the victims and their families.
The fire Roley allegedly set burned through about 20 acres and was still being managed the next day. Officials have not released the names of the two firefighters who died, but confirmed one was from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and the other from Kootenai County Fire & Rescue. The surviving firefighter, initially in critical condition, is now stable after surgery.
Featured image via Screengrab
